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6 Topic 3
Topic 3 Solids, Liquids, and Gases
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| solid | has a definite shape and a definite volume because particles are packed very closely together; can be hard and brittle or flexible, smooth and heavy or sharp and light |
| liquid | has a definite volume but no shape of its own because particles are always in contact with each other but can move more than a solid |
| gas | has no definite shape or volume because particles do not remain in contact with one another and move to fill all available space |
| thermal energy | the total kinetic and potential energy of all particles in an object or substance; increase by adding heat |
| temperature | a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in an object or substance; measured in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit |
| melting point | the temperature at which a substance changes from a solid to a liquid; the same as the freezing point |
| freezing point | the temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a solid |
| boiling point | the temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a gas |
| evaporation | vaporization that takes place only on the surface of a liquid |
| condensation | the change in state from a gas to a liquid |
| pressure | the force of pushing on a surface divided by the area of that surface; measured in units of pascals (Pa) or kilopascals (kPal) |
| phase change | physical change in which a substance changes from one phase/state to another |
| volume | the amount of space that matter takes up |
| mass | the amount of matter in a given space |